The capital of Saxony’s legendary baroque skyline was famously bombed out of existence during WWII, then neglected under a DDR regime that preferred rebuilding with dull concrete-box simplicity. Fortunately for us however, Dresden refused to roll over and die, and the past two decades have seen it rise like a phoenix from its own ashes.

Public Transport

An efficient network of buses and trams covers the whole city. Night buses operate on some routes. All services are operated by DVB (tel: (0351) 857 1011; www.dvb.de). Buy tickets as single fares, or four-journey or one-day passes. There are machines at tram and bus stops, and on board trams, and tickets can be bought from bus drivers.

Climate and best time to visit Dresden

Dresden has a moderate continental climate, ideal for visiting at any time. The main tourist season lasts from May to October, when the weather is kindest – although it can be stifling hot in peak summer, and prices then are often higher to boot. Although there are fewer tourists and the weather is cooler during the other months – winter snow is not uncommon – seasonal festivities can make a low-season visit worthwhile. In December there is the city’s famous Stollen Festival, itself a part of Dresden’s annual Striezelmarkt – one of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets.

Telephone
Country code:+49

Mobile telephony and Internet
Since June 2017, EU citizens traveling within the EU, and also in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein have been able to use their cell phones and surf the Net without incurring any extra charges: In other words, customers pay the same price for phone calls, text messages and data volume as they do at home. Restrictions do apply to the constant use of SIM cards abroad, however, and caps may be set on data packages. For full details, contact your mobile telephony provider in your country. Travelers using a SIM card from a non-EU state do not benefit from the new arrangement.

Free Internet access via Wi-Fi is possible in many busy tourist spots. When using public Wi-Fi networks, it is a wise precaution to ensure encryption of all passwords, credit card details and banking credentials entered. Use of a VPN app or security software to check the safety of a hotspot is recommended.

Key Areas

Many central Dresden shops are dedicated to selling the fine porcelain for which the city is famous. The oldest manufacturing firm is Wehsener Porzellan. For other items, the city’s self-styled ‘classic shopping mile’ begins at the main station, passes along Prager Strasse, and ends in Wilsdruffer Strasse. The passages around Neumarkt contain a wide range of shops and boutiques. Königstrasse is known for its antique shops, while the trendiest fashion and jewellery outlets are located in the baroque quarter.

Handshaking is customary in Germany, and it is considered rude to address people by their first name unless invited to do so. Normal courtesies should be observed. Before eating, it is normal to say “guten Appetit” to the other people at the table to which the correct reply is “danke, gleichfalls” (“Thank you, the same to you”). If you’ve been invited to eat at a German house, it is customary to present the hostess with unwrapped flowers (according to tradition, you should always give an uneven number, and it is worth noting that red roses are exclusively a lover’s gift).

In shops and other businesses, courtesy dictates that visitors should utter a greeting, such as “guten Tag” (or “grüß Gott” in Bavaria) before saying what it is that they want; to leave without saying “auf Wiedersehen” or “tschüss” can also cause offence.

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

There’s nothing to mark out German products as particularly risky to general health (although it has a partly founded reputation for being high in fat). Tap water is safe to drink.

Other Risks

Tick-borne encephalitis is present in forested areas of southern Germany; vaccination is advisable. Rabies is present; look out for ‘Tollwut’ signs. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered.

During the summer months, sunburn can be a problem. The southwest generally has the highest temperatures. The usual precautions apply: Use a generous amount of sunscreen and be sensible about how long you spend in direct sunlight. Be aware that a breezy day can sometimes mask high temperatures.

If walking over a long distance in warm weather, it’s advisable to drink – and carry – plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing, including a sun hat. Blisters can be another problem for hikers. These can often occur if new walking shoes are being worn over a long distance. Ideally, footwear should be worn in before the trip.

IATA Travel Centre

The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.

IATA Travel CentreIATA Travel Centre